The Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Mr Chiji Collins, has been impeached.

Collins was removed from office by the lawmakers on Friday during a plenary at the legislative chamber of the Assembly complex in Owerri, the state capital.

When the motion of the former speaker’s impeachment was move, it was supported by 19 out of the 27 members of the House.

Collins was impeached over allegations of financial impropriety, high handedness, and gross misconduct, among others.

Following his impeachment, the lawmakers elected Mr Paul Emeziem from Onuimo Local Government Area as the new Speaker of the House.

It could be recalled that the speaker had earlier in the week announced his defection to the People Democratic Party from All Progressives Congress, APC.

This was contained in a letter he signed and addressed it to the Speaker of the Imo state House of Assembly, Chiji Collins and was read at the floor of the House.

The reason for which Okolie, abandoned APC, for PDP, was not made known in the letter.